The fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B, 2012) brings to our consciousness the work of evangelization. The gospel reading, a continuation of last Sunday's depicts a day in the life of Jesus. The toilsomeness of life that Job sees (Job 7:1) characterizes the life of the Church whose main work is evangelization. Paul VI writes:
To reveal Jesus Christ and His Gospel to those who do not know them has been, ever since the morning of Pentecost, the fundamental program which the Church has taken on as received from her Founder. (Ev. Nun. n. 51)
Read the articles mentioned below for information, and use the following for your guide.
- Toiling for the Kingdom of God
- Workshop: Evangelization (Mark 1:29-30)
- Mag-aral Tayo: "Ako'y Dumating Dahil Dito..." (Mark!os 1:29-39)
- Bibliya Tagala: Ang Gawain Para sa Kaharian
1. In Mark's depiction of a day in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, we are shown a picture of Jesus as one who lives for the kingdom of God. We can meditate on this passage as a description of the Total Christ, the Head and Body working for the kingdom of God. The gospel passage from the Feast of the Conversion of Paul (Mark 16:9-20) read two Sundays previously gives us a post-resurrection key to the reading of Mark 1:29-39.
Reflect. As a member of Christ's body you are involved in the proclamation of the Kingdom whether you like it or not. Today, this work goes by the name "evangelization".
Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of His death and glorious resurrection. (Ev. Nun., n. 14)
Do you see your life as a Christian a contribution to the Church's work of evangelization?
2. When Simon's mother-in-law got healed, her response was diakonia, Church ministry. The narrative is an illustration of how the new life received from Christ becomes a response to Him concretized in one of the many forms of ministry that arise from within the Church.
Reflect. Your baptism empowers you for service within the community of the faithful. By baptism, you are configured to Christ, priest, prophet and king. In other words, you are enabled to be a leader, a servant leader. How have you been contributing to the life of your community of faith? What form of ministry are you exercising in its midst?
3. Jesus starts his working day by praying. He prays as one drawing power from the Father.
Reflect. As members of the Church, we draw our very existence from the Head, Christ. He said once: "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who lives in me will bear much fruit, for without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5) How is prayer an integral element of your day?
